Transferência de conhecimento e tecnologia : a perspectiva empresarial no contexto de sua interação com a universidade

Abstract

The current growing competitivity and shortening of technological cycle have led industries to seek innovation out of several sources. The context of universityindustry interaction have been an important source of innovation through knowledge and technology transfer. Nevertheless, the distinctive organizational nature of universities and industries presents challenges, especially in countries with less experience and lower intensity of innovation, such as the Brazilian reality. This dissertation has the objective of exploring the important dimensions in the perspective of the industries which engage in activities of knowledge and technology transfer with universities in Brazil. The research, of qualitative and descriptive approach, obtained answers of fourteen executives from companies engaged with universities. Five relevant dimensions were identified and analyzed on the industry perspective: motivations to engage in collaborations, activities of transfer in the interactions, intervenient factors, facilitators and barriers for transfer activities, as well as, expected innovation outcomes out of interactions with universities. The main factors, or variables, were identified and categorized, relevant within each one of the five dimensions and were compared to the available theory found in the literature. Among theoretical contributions of this study, it is the redesign of the process of knowledge and technological transfer in the university-industry interaction, including the qualification of the main factors for the industries. Another important contribution resides on a diagnosis of the Brazilian reality on the subject matter, compared to other countries in more developed stages of development. Regarding, the managerial contributions, this study is useful for universities aiming at improving relationships with industries, because it presents priorities and value attributes in the industry perspective. Another relevant managerial contribution has as recipient the own industry engaged in collaborations with universities. In this case, one industry is able to obtain critical factors in the relationship with universities, so that it can plan solutions accordingly to deal with situations that may come.